Chicanaui Yeyan Tlaltekyoliztli: Nine Earth Life-creating positions

 

Chicanaui Yeyan Tlaltekyoliztli

Nine Earth Life-creating positions

On June 21 Earth entered an astronomical position called solstice, the first day of summer. Thirteen days on July 3 Earth is farthest from the Sun. This is called an aphelion. Between the solstice and aphelion is when the Tlalocs are honored.

Summer ends and Fall begins with a position called equinox, when day and night are of equal length. Thirteen days later Earth enters an equihelion position, when the distance between Earth and Sun is the same as it will be 13 days after the Spring equinox.

Fall ends with the Winter solstice, the birth of Huitzilopochtli. Thirteen days later Earth enters her closest position to the Sun. This called a perihelion. Spring begins with the next equinox. Thirteen days later Earth enters her next equihelion, when the distance between Earth and Sun is the same as it was 13 days after the first day of Fall.

Earth’s ninth special position occurs only between the Tropic of Capricorn and the Tropic of Cancer. It is the solar zenith, when the Sun is directly above at noon and objects do not cast a shadow. At Chalchihuites (Zacatecas, Mexico) the zenith and summer solstice happen on the same day.

Carlos Aceves Yolohuitzcalotl